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These letters were added to the People's War site by Michelle Bullivant on behalf of Joan Punter and have been added to the site with her permission. The owner and family of these letters give their permission for these letters to be added and fully understand the terms and conditions.

These letters belong to my aunt Joan Punter ( nee Toller ) and were given to me to copy on to this site. They contain interesting home front information and political views of the war. They were written by my Great Aunt Marie Cruden( deceased ) to her husband George Cruden( also deceased ).

Marie refers to George as Peter Precious in many of these letters, this was because she was a Catholic ( originally from Ireland ) and when they first got together she didn't want to introduce him to her family as George because that was the Kings name! Some of these letters are written from London and from Nottingham where she lived at one point and also from Cambridge where they finally settled.

Letter 1

Wednesday. the. 14th.1941

My Dearest and Best, x.x.x.x.x.x..
Just a few hurried lines, to day
we are alright, although we have had a hectic time here to-day. Jerry has ben over all day, doing his stuff properly, and had quite a scare about 2.30 after the siren had gone, still sat on here carrying on, all at once he skimmed the roof tops, machine gunning all he was worth.
He's dropped three bombs in the town again, and we have heard that he has been shot down a little way out. Phew!!!! talk about getting hot and bothered wasn't it. Hope you had a quiet night in London. The weather is one of those dull depressing days, trying awfully hard to rain but does not even wet the pavement. Had a letter from Gidd this morning and she is looking forward to seeing me on the 24th, and wonders if ther's a chance of your getting down too for a long weekend. By the way RWB says what an awful time they have had in London, the worst ever, he says. Jerrys has compleatly gone he told me, and all our trade in the city has ceased to function with the exception of Bradburys. Its ghastly and no mistake.
We are alright in London, but every window and frame has been blown to blazes. By the way, I mentioned to Arthur Smith about the travelling facilities for the wives of men in the forces, and he says they would only be issued to me if I were travelling to London to see you or any other camp where you may be stationed, and they would not be issued in a general way for use.
Anyway, perhaps you could find something very definiate about that. Really, on the face of it, it seems that travelling to see husbands in their respective camps would be the only logical thing for them to do, otherwise with some of the wifes they would be charged up with no end of expenses,
Well, darling, its five o'clck again,- really the time flies in every sense of the word. I do hope you are keeping alright, and will not have to go to Cardington.
Wish they would re-open Hatfield. Still, thats too much to hope for I suppose.
Well, cheerio, sweetheart, I haven't any news for you, and the time is getting on, but just thought I would drop these few lines.
All the best of love and hugs and thoughts,
Always your own,
Marie

Letter 2

138 Harrow Road
April 1st. 1941.

My Dearest Peter Precious.
Well, I do hope you are alright, I would be ever so pleased to get even a couple of lines from you dear just to reassure me that your face is alright and that you yourself are feeling much better. Sent a little parcel off to you yesterday, and hope you got it safely. Of course there may be a letter from you when I gat home as often when you prehaps miss acertain post there is nothing in the morning. Had an hours warning last night, just as I was going to have my bath, but I just snapped my fingers at Jerry and hopped in.
What slendid news from the Meditteranean about seven of the Italian ships biggest ships sunk, and not one casualty of our own!!!! Jerry started bombing the poor devils of Italians who were shipwrecked, so our forces had to withdraw in the middle of saving them,- its dreadful. My goodness its a real soaker of weather here to-day, Dont forget to send Love's bills on in your next. Pitty I left them behind. It's Arthurs birthday on the 9th, so hope you'll be able to get to C about that date, and meet me there also????. How are things I do hope you are alright. I expect really that you are too busy to write. I am sending a couple of stamps in case you are out of them. Am awfully busy this week. F.B. is away got shingles, so expect that will be a few days yet before he is back. It's just five darling, I always manage to simmer down about five to, but like to get a little line off to you.
Cheerio, darling, all my love and thoughts, always your own.
Marie.
P.S. 1st of the month. and I wish you a happy one. Dear.

Letter 3

138 Harrow Road
Wollaton Park. Nottingham.
Wednesday. the 16th.

My dearest Peter Precious,
Had a splendid journey back, and got to N. at 7.45. But talk about "no travelling at Easter" gosh there were crowds of people even after the holiday actually finished, as Tuesday was. Still, there was no waiting for trains. Stepped from one train to the other on the other side of the platform, without rushing over bridges, etc to trains at the other side of the stations. Getting quite a hardened traveller these days, and getting to know the ropes a bit. In fact I'm almost a Cook's Tour Agent by the questions I get asked. Sometimes I fall flat and have to say I dont know.
There have been high jinks by Jerry- especially on the Thursday I left. They dropped four H.E's about a quarter of a mile from the back of the house. Several people killed, and many houses demolished. I reckon- with others, that they are after the new Rolls-Royce place they are putting up in Wollaton so fancy we are in for a warm time from now on. Especially as they have the big searchlight unit in the Estate grounds. However...... Mrs Wilde was all alone all the holiday, and strange to relate, she didn't even get out of bed. But when the bombs went off she said all of the doors banged open, and the house shook so much that she felt she had to go downstairs- gosh I bet she wished more than ever that we were there.
Lumme, how my back and shoulders- not to mention me feet- ache---- I'll give the lot of you "dig for victory" I feel as though I've dug up all the blokes allotments instead of a couple of spades full. However, as long as those carrots come up, I'll feel that I've helped Bill in his national effort. Phew, and the work that's piled itself up on my behalf!!!!!
RWB returned to-day, hoped I had a nice holiday, etc, and was pleased when I told him that you only just got Home (?) He did not add "you need not have returned" and seeing that I'm already here, its just as well.
Have you taken the snaps to be developed yet? It's a nice day, so hope you have finished the film. Wonder if you were able to get a snap of the baby. I say what about the dreadful raid on Northern Ireland last night. Really, it is a terrible business.
Don't forget to give Arthur's mother five bob before you go away tommorow. It would then save the poundage on a postal order for a week.
By the way, those shoes which I ordered came during the holiday. They are an awfully nice shoe for 16/9, but my stars, size 4 & half it would not fit anyone with a size 2!!!!! So therefore I must send them back, although I don't like making returns.
Well, love, it was such a lovely thing to see you again and of course to see you looking so much better. Take care of yourself, and don't work too hard. I will get those socks finished and sent off as quickly as I can. Hope someboby doesn't take them as a packet of toffee and sticks to them. You will be in a mess, them won't you. Good job the better weather is coming on now, it will give you a chance to get quite right again. It's hateful to leave you, you know. I like to be about and just watch your every bloomin move like a cat watches a mouse- and then I'm satisfied that you are doing what is good for you- not wandering round without a pullover or a hat during the cold windy weather, etc, you know all about it dont you, you've heard of me before. What happened about the old clothes?.
Well darling, ther's still something to get on with for the present, so I must away to the land of my fathers, and get down to it.
Cheerio sweetheart. thank mother for the good time she gave us together, its a pity we have to turn her out of her bed, and tell her I will write her a letter a little later on, but you can pass the news of the safe arrival, etc, now you are there.
All the very best of love, and all my thoughts, sweetheart and you know that I think of no one else but you always and at all times. Peter Precious.
As ever,
Your own.
Marie.

Letter 4

Friday. the. 16th May
138 Harrow Road.
Nottingham. ( plus Park of course )

My Own Dearest Peter Precious,x.x.x.
Anyway, the first thing to do is to apologise to you Mr Cruden, Dear Sir, for the omission to call you something, however, meagre, when sending an epistle. Its the old story, many around, and I leave the address until the last thing before closing the letter, and then forgot all about it while postbag is being closed up. As regards the X.X.X.X.X.well....... there's not the slightest excuse as you will notice.
Thanks for your long newsy letter, and ere this I hope you will have got the one sent you with the little photos in it. If you want the one with the hat on- keep it, but there's not a bit of stipulation about this. Well, I'm sorry that you had all that trapse around to get to G's. Anyway, it was nice to know that they made you so wecome. I say, I really was suprised to know that it had come to Smith going to 134. Old Margy has things all her way nad no doubt- even to mucking things up in her married life. Well, that's that, they cant marry, but have got to go on being pals. I'm sorry really, for the old people's sake, as they are such a dear old pair, that it must worry them actually, when they have such high moral principles. Now dear, as regards the weekend which you say you might possibly be able to get during my holiday. If it would be on the 6th, love, I really don't think it would be worth the rush and expense, because I should have to come back on the Saturday the 7th, in case there are no buses back on the Sunday, but still, if you could get leave so that YOU need not report back untill the Monday midnight, it would be worth it from your point if view. However, dear, I know you will do what you think is worth it. I could help with your fare if necessary, but my point is that unless you can have the benefit of a good few hours stay, it would not be worth risking a longer time of later on. What do you think?
It makes very sad reading indeed to hear of how London is gradually disappearing, and more especially the City as we know it. I take it Gamages are still going strong, in spite of Holborn being a bit knocked about. I somehow felt that the Houses of Parliament would be unlucky. Of course it was a nice building architecturally, but it was under 100 years old, as I see by the encyclopedia, that it was built in 1858.
This Hess business is certainly as bewildering as the events in the war in different parts of its theatre. Anyway, Bevin spoke his mind in no uncertain terms, and also the papers tone generally seems to be for more stronger measures to be taken as regards his person. It is ironic to read of his getting eggs, chicken, and everything else that is good, when the poor people of Plymouth and Liverpool, are probably looking for somewhere to house themselves, never mind, feed. I want to know why he should have wanted the Duke of Hamilton above all other personages, and WHY????? even when Hess was on the way to hospital was the Duke of Hamilton sent for to interview Hess as he had requested?????
Have we some fifth columnists amoung our- or rather the Scottish nobility? It rather looks as though they are after getting seperate Government, if they are adopting these king of tactics. Perhaps there was some arrangement for troops to be landed in Scotland- its a wild and rugged country in many parts, but the fact that Hess machine caught fire, and he himself was injured, rather than mucked the whole thing up. Personally I feel it wants a lot of explaining. Do away with the soppy senimentality which some of the press articles seem to try to indulge in, and use the third degree to the fullest on Hess, and then stick him up against a wall, and put all the bullets that his body will take into him. That would br the fate of any of our blokes who tried the traitors stunt, anyway. And what about the rotten French too. Fuelling the Jerry planes from Syria. Well let 'em, and may the R A F bomb and bomb em to blazes, for their treachery.
Well, darn the war talk.
Had another warning last night, or rather this moring 2 to 5. Jerry passed over, not much noise from him, and we did not have any guns. Our windows in the premises are now in, so thank goodness we are out of the dungeon like place, which until to-day has had thick wooden shutters up. Well, its wind up official in our house now. Mrs Wilde had all her case packed with clothes and valuables. deeds of the house, probate, etc. etc. which action has been caused through the evacuation which has gone on during the past few days of people from their homes on account of D. A's. Anyway, the whole idea is not a bad one ( I mean as regards getting some things packed up ) they might drop a few in Wollaton Park sometime.
I hope by now you have got the little photo back. Yes, I thought Boots were taking a long time over them- but I didn't ask why, because photographers who do the printing and developing seem to be few and far between here. The one nice place where I got the others done is no more, so that is why I took them to Boots.
Well, now, love I must ring off there are three or four certain persons, who suddenly find there are many things which must be answered tonight, and that is why I feel it in my bones that if I dont finish this now, you wont get it.
Cheerio, darling, all my love, and thoughts, and I hope you have a nice weekend. They have got the "son of Monte Cristo" running here and at the moment I am not sure whether to go, or wait a bit and get over my last weekend expenses. Do you want any cash by the way?
All the very best of love, thought hugs kisses, and I am so very sorry that you have such a bad cold. I somehow felt that it was unwise even in the heat of the last weekend, to leave off that pullover, and on one occasion you went without it altogether didn't you?????? I should have hagged if I had started on you, I know, but you will do what you think sometimes, and take a chance. Anyway, love I do hope you are feeling better. Mine is still hanging around, and my poor old lips couldn't be kissed even gently by you now.
Cheerio,
Ever and always
Your own.
Marie.x.x.x.x.x.

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